HAITI A Solar Solution to Water Scarcity

“Ihad this idea that if you could just build a water cistern that can save the water and have it when it’s dry, that would be good. Having ocean water be drinkable would help so many people.”

These are the words of Jeanot, a night watchman in Anse-à-Galets on the island of La Gonâve, Haiti, a year ago. This year, his dream is about to come true, as World Hope International, in partnership with GivePower, prepares to turn the tap and launch its new, solar-powered water desalination and distribution center on the island.

After a year of preparation and long hours of laboring on the barren land, the solar panel array, Tesla batteries, and pump are ready to go. Electrical, plumbing, and other finishing touches are now being applied. Soon 20,000 gallons of clean water will be produced straight from the sea.

Not only will the sale of the water allow the installation to be entirely self-sufficient, covering the ongoing maintenance of the equipment and salaries of the local technicians and staff, but now, clean water will also be regularly supplied to the only hospital on the island—something made more important than ever in the time of COVID-19.

Sunday, January 26 Monrovia, Liberia, Site of Community Well dug by WHI

“There are times when we walk into someone’s life and it rocks our world. That was what I experienced when I went to Liberia with my church, Celebrate Church in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to see our partnership with World Hope International. There I met a woman called Lucy.

Her passion was so deep she could only speak in staccato — loud, quick, almost mad, but not quite. There was a rumor in Lucy’s settlement that there was gold and diamonds underneath the ground and based on a future “hope,” no one would give up a piece of their very small yard for a water well and pump. But there was a righteous woman named Lucy who gave her land for the health and well-being of her people, so that they would have clean water and it would be a blessing to all.

This is the wail of a righteous woman: ‘And no one would give their land for water — promise of gold and diamonds. I said, NO, NO we need water! You can take my land for a well. And here it stands, you are welcome! Thank you, thank you! I thank God for all of you! I’ll keep the well clean, I will greet you. My land and well — your water, drink.’”

Exciting News!

On March 4th, Dr. Jo Anne Lyon was inaugurated as the new Vice Chair of the National Association of Evangelicals. About 350 people from across the United States attended the event, which was held at the Capital Turnaround in Washington, D.C. She is the first woman to step into this position. We are grateful for her ongoing service, leadership, and voice at World Hope International and beyond.